Lesson Plan - The Six Thinking Hats

http://schoolnet.gov.mt/tsmiddle/White%20Hat.htm

Duration : 45 mins
The White Hat.

I need to look for some

information.

To help pupils to focus on the retrieval of information in any given

situation.

Aim :

For the explanation of the Six Thinking Hats, we will use the same basic
example so that we can identify the use of each hat.

Situation:

A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family.

Explanation of the White Hat:

What information do we have?

What information do we need?
Where can we get the missing
information from?

What is it used for?

The White Hat helps us to gather information? When using this Hat we ask three basic
questions:
1. What information do we have? (About the topic in question)
2. What information do we need?
3. Where can we get the required information from.

Activity:
A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family. Use the
White Hat to gather all the information possible.

Procedure.
1. Group pupils in small groups of 4. Chose a group secretary and a spokesperson for
every group.
2. Give out the situation.
3. Allow a few minutes for the pupils to answer the first question:

What information do we have?

4. Stop students from generating responses for the first question. (after
approx. 4 minutes).
5. Now direct the pupils to answer the second question:

What information do we need?

6. Stop students from generating responses for the first question. (after approx.
4 minutes).
7. Now direct the pupils to answer the third question:

Where can we get the missing information from?

8. Stop students from generating responses for the first question. (after
approx. 4 minutes).

9. Pupils now share the outcome of their groups.

N.B. As this is the first time for the pupils, the teacher could do this as a class activity
on the board. It will be much easier for the pupils to grasp the concept. They will then
be able to do it on their own.

Processing:
Teacher asks the pupils the following questions to stimulate metacognitive
talk.
1. How did you feel when using the White Hat?
2. Do you think that looking for the information only helps you? Why?
3.. Where and when would you use the White Hat?

Practice item 2. Let's organise a party! (10 minutes)

Pupils work in small groups.

Processing:
Pupils now share the outcome of their thoughts

Materials needed:
Loose sheets of paper (Unless they have the Thinking Diary already in hand)
Flipchart paper and markers if there is no board in the room being used for the
sessions.
Portable reverse timer
Hat

The Six Thinking Hats

Duration : 45 mins
The Red Hat.

How do you feel about

this idea?
To help pupils to isolate feelings without letting them take over their
thinking.

Aim :

For the explanation of the Six Thinking Hats, we will use the same basic
example so that we can identify the use of each hat.

Situation:

A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family.

Explanation of the Red Hat:

What is it used for?
The Red Hat helps us to focus on how we feel about a particular idea without the need
to justify yourself.
To practice the Red Hat the pupils will not need to take a full five minutes. In fact the
maximum time allocated should not exceed 30 seconds.

Activity. This activity will help the pupils to understand the concept of the Red Hat.
Ask a number of pupils or all of them if there is enough space to stand up and move to
one side of the room.

Divide the room into various segments lengthwise.

Allocate a feeling to each segment

e.g. I love it, I like it, uncertain, not so sure, I don't like it, I
hate it.
Mention things that your pupils like and others that they
don't like.
e.g. Burgers and Chips. They can go to the segment that
they prefer. Do it again with other examples of food,
activities anything that will cause a swing in the pupils'
opinions.

Activity
A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family. Use the Red
Hat to express how you feel about it.

Procedure.
Just ask the pupils: " How would you feel about it?"

N.B. As this is the first time for the pupils, the teacher could do this as a class activity
on the board. It will be much easier for the pupils to grasp the concept. They will then
be able to do it on their own.

Processing:
Teacher asks the pupils the following questions to stimulate metacognitive
talk.
1. How did you feel when using the Red Hat?

Practice item 2. Let's organise a party! (2 minutes)

Pupils work in small groups. This will compliment the same example used for the White
Hat when building a sequence of hats.

Processing:
Pupils now share the outcome of their thoughts

Materials needed:
Loose sheets of paper (Unless they have the Thinking Diary already in hand)
Flipchart paper and markers if there is no board in the room being used for the
sessions.
Portable reverse timer
Hat

The Six Thinking Hats

Duration : 45 mins
The Yellow Hat.

What' good about

this idea?

To help pupils focus on the retrieval of benefits and points that build
value in a situaiton.

Aim :

For the explanation of the Six Thinking Hats, we will use the same basic
example so that we can identify the use of each hat.

Situation:

A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family.

Explanation of the Yellow Hat:

Think
Positive

What is it used for?

The Yellow Hat helps us to focus on the positive points even when initially there seem to
be none.
This hat is less natural than the Black, Red or White Hats. Deliberate effort has to be
made in order to start generating responses especially if the idea does not seem
interesting to the individual.

Activity:
A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family. Use the
White Hat to gather all the information possible.

Procedure.
1. Group pupils in small groups of 4. Chose a group secretary and a spokesperson for
every group.
2. Give out the situation.
3. Allow a few minutes for the pupils to generate responses.
4. Stop students from generating responses. (after approx. 5-7 minutes).
5. Pupils now share the outcome of their groups.

N.B. As this is the first time for the pupils, the teacher could do this as a class activity
on the board. It will be much easier for the pupils to grasp the concept. They will then
be able to do it on their own.

Processing:
Teacher asks the pupils the following questions to stimulate metacognitive
talk.
1. How did you feel when using the Yellow Hat?
2. How do you think that looking for the good points only can help you?
3.. Where and when would you use the Yellow Hat?

Practice item 2. Let's organise a party! (10 minutes)

Pupils work in small groups.

Processing:
Pupils now share the outcome of their thoughts

Materials needed:
Loose sheets of paper (Unless they have the Thinking Diary already in hand)
Flipchart paper and markers if there is no board in the room being used for the
sessions.
Portable reverse timer
Hat

The Six Thinking Hats

Duration : 45 mins

What are the possible risks?

The Black Hat.

To help pupils focus on the possible difficulties that may arise from
any given situation.

Aim :

For the explanation of the Six Thinking Hats, we will use the same basic
example so that we can identify the use of each hat.

Situation:

A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family.

Explanation of the Black Hat:

What can go wrong?

What don't we like about an idea?
What are the possible
difficulties/problems?

The Black Hat helps us to identify the possible problems that we can have when
planning or organising something. We can also use the Black Hat to evaluate a
situation.
This hat is easily worn by everyone. However, we must make sure not to overuse it.

Activity:
A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family. Use the
White Hat to gather all the information possible.

Procedure.
1. Group pupils in small groups of 4. Chose a group secretary and a spokesperson for
every group.
2. Give out the situation.
3. Allow a few minutes for the pupils to generate responses.
4. Stop students from generating responses. (after approx. 5-7 minutes).
5. Pupils now share the outcome of their groups.

N.B. As this is the first time for the pupils, the teacher could do this as a class activity
on the board. It will be much easier for the pupils to grasp the concept. They will then
be able to do it on their own.

Processing:
Teacher asks the pupils the following questions to stimulate metacognitive
talk.
1. How did you feel when using the Black Hat?
2. How do you think that looking for the negative points only can help you?
3.. Where and when would you use the Black Hat?

Practice item 2. Let's organise a party! (10 minutes)

Pupils work in small groups.

Processing:
Pupils now share the outcome of their thoughts

Materials needed:
Loose sheets of paper (Unless they have the Thinking Diary already in hand)
Flipchart paper and markers if there is no board in the room being used for the
sessions.
Portable reverse timer
Hat

The Six Thinking Hats

Duration : 45 mins
The Green Hat
reminds us of
growth. Let's
grow new
creative ideas
together.

The Green Hat.

To help pupils generate different creative ideas. Pupils will learn to
develop more innovative solutions.

Aim :

For the explanation of the Six Thinking Hats, we will use the same basic
example so that we can identify the use of each hat.

Situation:

A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family.

Explanation of the Green Hat:

How can we do it differently?

What alternatives do we
have?

The Green Hat helps us to generate di

This hat is easily worn by everyone. However, we must make sure not to overuse it.

Activity:
A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family. Use the
White Hat to gather all the information possible.

Procedure.
1. Group pupils in small groups of 4. Chose a group secretary and a spokesperson for
every group.
2. Give out the situation.
3. Allow a few minutes for the pupils to generate responses.
4. Stop students from generating responses. (after approx. 5-7 minutes).
5. Pupils now share the outcome of their groups.

N.B. As this is the first time for the pupils, the teacher could do this as a class activity
on the board. It will be much easier for the pupils to grasp the concept. They will then
be able to do it on their own.

Processing:
Teacher asks the pupils the following questions to stimulate metacognitive
talk.
1. How did you feel when using the Green Hat?

2. How do you think that looking for the negative points only can help you?
3.. Where and when would you use the Green Hat?

Practice item 2. Let's organise a party! (10 minutes)

Pupils work in small groups.

Processing:
Pupils now share the outcome of their thoughts

Materials needed:
Loose sheets of paper (Unless they have the Thinking Diary already in hand)
Flipchart paper and markers if there is no board in the room being used for the
sessions.
Portable reverse timer
Hat

The Six Thinking Hats

Duration : 45 mins
The Blue Hat is
the facilitator
hat.
Which sequence
of Hats are we
using?

The Blue Hat.

Aim :

To help pupils focus during the thinking process.

For the explanation of the Six Thinking Hats, we will use the same basic
example so that we can identify the use of each hat.

Situation:

A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family.

Explanation of the Blue Hat:

Let's do some Yellow Hat

thinking!

The Blue Hat helps us to stay focused during a thinking session. The Blue Hat has
the following functions:

IT

FACILITATES THE THINKING SESSION .

The Blue Hat has the function to keep

everyone on track. If an individual mentions a point that does not fall under the
Hat being practiced, the Blue Hat redirects the thinking.
e.g. During Yellow Hat Thinking.

"I don't think that this is a good idea."

The Blue Hat redirects the session by saying: "this is good Red Hat Thinking,
however at the
moment we are practicing Yellow. Try and come up with a Yellow Hat point."

IT SETS THE

OBJECTIVES.

IT SETS THE

AGENDA.

What is the focus for this meeting.

What sequence are we using?

It is the time keeper.

other

It's time up for Green Hat thinking. Are there any

ideas. We can have two more minutes.

Activity:
A friend of yours asked you to go on a holiday with his/her family. Use the
White Hat to gather all the information possible.

Procedure.

1. Group pupils in small groups of 4. Chose a group secretary and a spokesperson for
every group.
2. Give out the situation.
3. Allow a few minutes for the pupils to generate responses.
4. Stop students from generating responses. (after approx. 5-7 minutes).
5. Pupils now share the outcome of their groups.

N.B. As this is the first time for the pupils, the teacher could do this as a class activity
on the board. It will be much easier for the pupils to grasp the concept. They will then
be able to do it on their own.

Processing:
Teacher asks the pupils the following questions to stimulate metacognitive
talk.
1. How did you feel when using the Blue Hat?
2. Where and when would you use the Blue Hat?

Practice item 2. Let's organise a party! (10 minutes)

Pupils work in small groups.

Processing:
Pupils now share the outcome of their thoughts

Materials needed:
Loose sheets of paper (Unless they have the Thinking Diary already in hand)
Flipchart paper and markers if there is no board in the room being used for the
sessions.
Portable reverse timer

Hat